Automatic sign and advertisement displaying machine



Nov. 23 192a. 4 "1,607,934

F. M. YEARBY AUTOMATIC SIGN AND ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAYING MACHINE Filed March 25. 1926 .17 r 26 JOHN DOE Z5 0 ITVT L F) 1L 9r RWHARD I 7 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES FERMAN M. YEARBY, OF EVANSVI-LLE, INDIE ANA.

AUTOMATIC SIGN AND ADVERTISEMENT LDISP'L'AYING MACHINE.

Application filed March 25, 1 92 6. Serial NOFQZSOQ. V

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic machine which will operate an endless apron or belt bearing any desired matter which is to be displayed and will bring the advertisements, notices, signs or whatever matter is carried by the apron successively into view and when all of the matter on the apron has been displayed, will automatically operate a drop curtain which will cover up the apron. The apron will remain covered by-the curtain until its con tinued'movement brings the first display or advertising matter into position for being again displayed whereupon the machine will automatically wind up the curtain and retain it in wound up condition until all of the display or advertising matter has been again displayed. These operations continue automatically as long as the machine operates. Suitable illumination will be provided in connection with the apron.

A practical embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lis a front elevation of the complete machine;

Figure 2 is a similar view, the front of the case being omitted, the curtain being raised;

Figure 3 is a side elevation; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the operative parts,the curtain being in lowered position.

The machine is carried by a frame 1 which supports bearings 2 for a lower shaft 3 and bearings 4 for an upper shaft 5.

An electric motor 6 which derives its current from a circuit 7 under any suitable switch control, is connected by chain and sprocket gearing 7 to the shaft 3. The arrangement is such that the shaft3 will be driven steadily, though slowly, so that the display of advertising matter will appear sufiici ently long to be easily read.

An endless apron, belt or film of canvas 8 is carried by drums 9 and 10 on the shafts 3 and 5. This belt or apron bears the advertisements or other matter which it is desired to display. The direction of travel of the apron is shown by the arrow. To secure uniformity of turning of the shafts 3 and 5, they are connected by chain and sprocket gearing 9.

Cam lugs or ridges 10 and 11 are carried by, and project laterally from the edge of opposite stretches of the apron 8, said lugs serving to control the operation of the curtain.

Mounted in bearings 12'and 18 is a shaft 14 which carries ashade roller 15 to which is connected a shade 16 having a weighted "strip "17 at its lower edge. The shade is of such a length that when lowered it will nected by a drive chain 20 so that when the sprocket wheel 19is clutched tothe'sh'aft 5 the shaft 14 will be turned and the shade 16 wound up. I

Slidably splined on the shaft 5 is a clutch collar 21 which is under the control of a lever 22 that is pivoted at 23 and has a bent end 25. A spring 26 presses the lower end of the lever 22 toward the left and tends to disengage the clutch collar 21 from the clutch face 20 and to cause a locking clutch face 24 to engage the clutch face 18.

The frame 1 has a suitable glass front 2'? through which the advertisements may be seen and there is a shade or visor 28 at the upper part of the frame.

The electric motor 6 having been set in operation and the lever 22- being free, the spring 26 presses said lever to the left to cause the clutch faces 18 and 24 to engage, thus locking the shaft 14 and holding the shade 16 in its wound up condition. At this time the clutch collar 21 is disengaged from the clutch face 20.

The rotation of the shaft 3 causes the apron 8 to be moved, displaying the advertisements in succession until the cam lug 10, at the termination of the display of all of the advertisements, arrives at the point where it engages the bent end 25 of lever 22 swinging said lever to the right, disengaging the clutch faces 18 and 24 but not engaging the clutch collar 21 with the clutch face 20.

The shaft 14 having thus become unlocked, the weight 17 causes the turtain 16 to immediately drop. The curtain remains in its dropped position until the further travel of the apron 8 brings the higher cam lug ll irito engagement with the bent end 25012 the lever .22 which moves the lever 22 to throw the clutch collar 21 into engagement with the clutch face 20. The lug 11 is 01" a suii'icient length to maintain this condition long enough so that the revolution oi' the shaft will turn the shaft 14 to wind up the curtain l6, thereupon the bent end 25 is "forced oil the end of the lug 11, causing the clutch faces 18 and 24 to engage to lock the shaft M and hold the shade in its raised position, the clutch collar 21 and clutch face being thrown out of engagement. The advertisements are displayed until the lug 10 comes around and engages the bent end 25 whereupon the lever 22 is again moved to neutral position and the shade 16 again drops These operations follow as long as the machine operates.

I claim:

1. In an automatic sign and advertisement displaying machine, the combination with an endless sign and advertisement carrier, of a wind-up, gravity-drop curtain, adapted when it is lowered to cover the matter on the endless carrier, means for winding up the said curtain, means for lockingthe curtain in wound up position, a lever controlling the operation of the wind-up means and the locking means, and means carried by the carrier for controlling said lever.

2. In an automatic sign and advertisement displaying machine, the combination with an endless sign and advertisement carrier, of a wind-up, gravity-drop curtain, adaptet, when it is lowered, to cover the matter on the endless carrier, means for winding up the said curtain, means for lockin the curtain in wound up position, a lever controlling the operation of the wind-up means and the locking means, and independent means carried by the carrier, one of said means being adapted to hold the lever in neutral position so that the wind-up means and the locking means will be inactive to let the curtain drop,-the other of said means being adapted to operate the lever to couple up the wind-up means so that it will wind up the curtain.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

FERMAN M. YEARBY. 

